Weather: 'Egay' maintains strength, moves northwest

Tropical depression "Egay" maintained its strength as it moved northwestward before noon on Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. According to PAGASA's 11:00 a.m. advisory, "Egay" was estimated at 300 kilometers east of Surigao City as of 10:00 a.m., and it had maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center. PAGASA said "Egay" was moving northwest at 13 kph and is expected to be 170 km east-northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar Saturday morning. By Sunday morning it is expected to be 100 km east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes. By Monday morning it is forecast to be 180 km northeast of Casiguran, Aurora.

While no storm signals were raised, PAGASA said "Egay" may enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring rains over Mindanao and Eastern Visayas. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said their present data indicated tha "Egay" will not likely to make landfall over any part of the country. Quitlong told dzBB radio "Egay" may merely "graze" the eastern part of the country and head for Taiwan. - VVP, GMA News